Just be sure to avoid the actual tip of the electrode, as you can easily break it by prying on it. Using a small flat-tip screwdriver or a knife, you can gently tap the electrode to achieve the desired gap. Yes - that’s an actual tool, and no, you don’t need it if you have a feeler gauge. That’s the tool that you use to make the actual adjustments. The good news is that the second tool is easy to workaround. In many cases, you’re probably better off sticking with the pre-adjusted spark plugs before trying to make adjustments based on estimations. You’ll need to find the exact model you have, and then track down the thickness dimensions and hope it matches up with what you’re looking for. That’s because not every flathead screwdriver has the same thickness - and that’s the case with most objects in your garage. The problem is you’re going to have to look up each object individually and measure the thickness. If you’re feeling a little stubborn or just downright strapped for time, you can start looking around your workshop to find different tools to use. Trying to guestimate the gap can lead to engine damage and be more of a headache than it’s worth. But if you’re looking for a different gap, you should probably invest in a feeler gauge or a spark plug gapper. If you’re looking for a spark plug gap with either of those two measurements, you don’t need a feeler gauge. Those two objects are a penny and a dime, and their measurements are as follows: There are two common household objects you can use to gap your spark plug - but you’re going to need to get a little creative. This gapping usually falls somewhere between 0.028” and 0.06”. Using Household Itemsįirst, you need to determine the correct gapping for your vehicle. But if you’re really in a pinch, there are a few different things you can use to try to bail yourself out.
Spark plug feeler gauges are cheap - you can usually find them for less than you’d spend on a 6-pack. Luckily, finding a replacement for this isn’t as tough. The spark plug gapper is what you use to make actual adjustments.
Simply because the gap on your spark plug is very particular, and it can be hard to get the correct gap without an accurate measurement.
PRE GAPPED SPARK PLUGS FULL
When you have a workshop full of tools at your disposal, there are two tools you’ll use for gapping spark plugs:įeeler gauges help you measure the gap - and it’s the most challenging tool to work around. Best Ways to Gap Spark Plugs Without a Tool If that isn’t bad enough, an incorrectly gapped spark plug could also reduce the long-term durability of your engine. If you’ve ever experienced the symptoms of bad spark plugs, it’s almost exactly the same. If your car is running especially rich, you may have incorrectly gapped spark plugs. Whether you have spark plugs with the wrong gapping, or a lower-quality set where the gapping isn’t adjusted - you’re going to run into a bunch of problems. Getting home is more important than the perfect spark plug gap! What Happens if You Ignore Gapping? Not only this but sometimes the tricks in this post can get you out of a bind. Without the proper tools, it’s more likely that you’ll mess up the gapping instead of fixing it.īut if you have reason to suspect that the preset gapping is off –– then it might be worth trying to fix it yourself even if you don’t have a spark plug gapper.
Keep in mind that if you don’t have the proper tools to gap a spark plug, it’s better to trust the pre-gapping instead of making rough adjustments and hoping for the best. Generally these aren’t pre-gapped, and even if they are, you might want to double-check the gap. Today, premium spark plugs come pre-gapped and as long as you buy the right spark plug from a quality brand, you don’t need to worry about gapping it.īut given the cost of replacement spark plugs, nobody’s going to blame you for choosing a cheaper option. However, too little of a gap, and there won’t be enough space for the air around the electrode to ignite, and you still won’t have any combustion. Too much of a gap and the electrode can’t spark - which means your car’s fuel won’t ignite and you won’t get any combustion. While there are many internal factors that make a spark plug work, one that you can see is the spark plug gap. Why Do Spark Plugs Need to Be Gapped?ĭon’t let the simple appearance of a spark plug fool you, they are fine-tuned components that are critical to your engine.
PRE GAPPED SPARK PLUGS HOW TO
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about spark plug gapping and how to correctly gap your spark plugs even without a gapping tool. In a fix and you don’t know what to do? Need to gap your spark plugs, but you don’t have the tools to do it? If you already have your car torn apart, the last thing you want to do is reassemble everything just to go and get the tool that you need. There are few things that feel worse than trying to complete a job only to find out that you’re missing a tool.
0 kommentar(er)
